Co-Organizers:
Ph.D. Candidate Allegra Grillo (University of Genoa – Bocconi University)
Dr. Arnulfo Daniel Mateos Durán (University of Genoa – Heidelberg University)
Prof. Alessio Sardo (University of Genoa)

Today, the majority of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and the most densely populated regions are becoming ever more densely populated. The growth of cities is driven by several factors, such as agglomeration economies, human capital and housing longevity. Over the last century, production cities, which are more dependent on manufacturing and industrialization, have given way to consumer cities. The high agglomeration of urban dwellers and the rapid expansion of cities lead to different economic, political and social forms of inequality. Furthermore, with the expansion of urban areas, efficient and accessible commuting is becoming an important need for citizens to prevent people’s right to freely choose where they live and work from being restricted. This is just one example of many challenges that ever-growing cities must address in order to achieve urban equity among their citizens. All these questions require the development of new strategies and a rethinking of the concept of cities as living spaces. Each factor that makes up urban complexity is linked to a specific legal framework or system. The main objective of this SW is to assess the impact of law on urban inequalities. For this reason, we focus on the following three categories.

• Urban justice.
At the urban level, fundamental rights and constitutional principles such as equality and democracy become specific concepts that encompass the right to the city, the free choice of residence, the right to procedural justice and a fair outcome in urban transformation, and the right to equal access to education and public services. The legal conceptualization of urban rights is an essential benchmark for assessing the degree of spatial justice, urban inclusiveness and fairness.

• Housing.
In cities, the problems of housing affordability and homelessness are more complicated and greater than in less densely populated areas. Housing is increasingly seen as a commodity and an economic good, but it is also a human right under international law, including the right to secure tenure and living standards. The constitution, tax regulations, rent controls and social housing policies are all legal instruments that impact on housing issues in cities. To what extent do legal systems recognize the right to housing and how do they interpret it?

• Governance.
The challenges facing cities require important reforms and socially oriented policies. However, even policy-making is complicated at the urban level, as cities, as part of the national state structure, often struggle with limited legal competences that are essential for the implementation of necessary reforms. Division of powers within the metropolitan region; division of powers between the metropolitan region (if any, the region) and the state; differentiation of the governance model depending on the size of the city; network of cities within the same region as well as across national borders, urban participation and so on. What changes in legal powers can enable the city government to achieve real equality?

List of confirmed members
Agnès Díaz Castellano (University of Genoa, Italy)
Allegra Grillo (University of Genoa, Italy – Bocconi University, Italy)
Arnulfo Daniel Mateos Durán (University of Genoa, Italy – Heidelberg University, Germany)
Santiago Alejandro Ortega Gomero (Espíritu Santo University, Ecuador)
Alessio Sardo (University of Genoa, Italy)

Call for Papers.
We will welcome submissions to participate in this SW. Submissions should include title and an abstract with an extension between 250 and 500 words. The reception cycle will close on 15th April 2024 and the confirmation will be sent latest on 29th April 2024. The submissions should be sent to the following email: habitaterc@gmail.com
The workshop is organized within the research framework of the ERC Starting Grant: HABITAT – How European Big Cities and Legal Systems Trigger Urban Inequality: An Inquiry into Law and Economics. PI: Prof. Alessio Sardo. Grant agreement ID: 101076616
Link: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101076616